County approves contract with K&W Plastics, recognizes career tech programs

The Coffee County Commission agreed to enter into a three-year contract with K&W Plastics’ Recycling Division during a regular meeting, Feb. 11.

According to County Administrator Rod Morgan, the contract will be effective as of March 2013, at which point the county will begin accepting waste from the K&W at the Coffee County Landfill on Highway 125.

The commissioners also recognized the career and technical education programs at all of the schools within Coffee County.  

Elba City Schools, Enterprise City Schools and Coffee County Schools all feature career technical and cooperative education courses, which are leading the way as schools across the state adapt to Plan 2020.

Career tech programs are meant to prepare students for the workforce while they are still in high school and most include dual enrollment, agriscience, welding, automotive, business, JROTC and other courses that prepare students for a specific career path after high school.

The commissioners joined with the Alabama Department of Public Education in declaring February 2013 as Technical Education Month throughout Alabama.

“Two out of every three students in the state participate in (these) programs,” Commission Chairman Tom Grimsley said. “Career and technical programs have shown a commitment to improving students’ lives after high school by providing them with the opportunity to earn advanced diplomas, explore individual career options and receive college credit.”

Commissioners also passed a resolution giving the town of New Brockton the ability to house municipal inmates in the Coffee County Jail.

The resolution came after an agreement between the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department and the town of New Brockton was reached.

In other business, the commissioners passed a resolution giving employees of the sheriff’s department the right to compensation time.

The comp time is gained once deputies or other employees work more than their full-time weekly hours.

According to the resolution, the time must be used during the calendar year in which it is accrued.

Commissioners also approved a resolution authorizing an agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation for the resurfacing of Coffee County Road 353 and a portion of Coffee County Road 106.

The projects are part of the 13 road resurfacing projects and a bridge replacement project that were recently approved in the latest round of the Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program (ATRIP).

The state will provide about $6 million for the projects.

At the request of Coffee County Engineer Randy Tindell, the commission also approved the sale of several surplus equipment items on the website govdeals.com.

The equipment includes a tractor, camper trailer, dump trailer, bush hog cutter and other miscellaneous items.

Despite Sunday and Monday’s near continuous rainfall, Coffee County Emergency Management Agency Director Larry Walker said the county was fortunate.

According to Walker, the evening storms causes no structure damage and brought 2-4 inches of rain to various spots of Coffee County.

According to Commissioner Dean Smith, the county’s highway department was dispatched to remove seven downed trees from county roads during the evening hours on Sunday, Feb. 10.

The commission also agreed to grant an easement from the county’s sewage system to the Southeast Alabama Mental Health Department in Enterprise.

The SAMHD will be removed from the county’s sewage system and join the Enterprise city system in the near future.

Commissioners also reappointed Whitney Cotton and Hubert Martin to the board of the Coffee County Water Authority. 

The Coffee County Commission will meet again at 9 a.m., Feb. 25, in the community room at the Coffee County Complex in New Brockton.